Wireless network load balancing

Abstract

This disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for load balancing access points (APs) in a mesh network. Certain aspects are directed to obtaining load information from each wireless device of a set of wireless devices, the load information being indicative of resource availability for each band available to each wireless device of the set. In some examples, the disclosure is directed to identifying a first band and a first wireless device of the set of wireless devices associated with the first band based on the first band having a highest level of traffic among bands available to the set of wireless devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 one or more memories comprising instructions; and   one or more processors configured to execute the instructions and cause the apparatus to:
 receive first load information from a first wireless device of a set of wireless devices, the first load information being received from a second wireless device and indicative of a first percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over each of a plurality of bands available to the first wireless device; 
 receive, from the second wireless device, a first request for second load information indicative of a second percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over each band available to the apparatus; 
 transmit, to the second wireless device, the second load information; 
 receive, from the second wireless device, a second request for the apparatus to load balance taking into account the first load information; and 
 load balance communications by the apparatus taking into account the received first load information and the second request. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is separated from the first wireless device by less than or equal to N hops. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
 transmit, to one or more wireless devices including the first wireless device, the second load information indicative of the second percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over each band available to the apparatus, wherein the transmitting of the second load information to the one or more wireless devices including the first wireless device is at least one of event triggered or periodic.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the transmitting of the second load information to the one or more wireless devices including the first wireless device is triggered by:
 satisfaction of a threshold condition of a percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over at least one band available to the apparatus, or   the received first load information.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the apparatus is separated from the one or more wireless devices by less than or equal to N hops. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the load balancing further takes into account the second load information being indicative of the apparatus having a reduced percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over a band relative to the first percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over of the same band to the first wireless device. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver configured to:
 receive the first load information, wherein the apparatus is configured as a third wireless device.   
     
     
         8 . A method of wireless communication by a network node, comprising:
 receiving first load information from a first wireless device of a set of wireless devices, the first load information being received from a second wireless device and indicative of a first percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over each of a plurality of bands available to the first wireless device;   receiving, from the second wireless device, a first request for second load information indicative of a second percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over each band available to the network node;   transmitting, to the second wireless device, the second load information;   receiving, from the second wireless device, a second request for the network node to load balance taking into account the first load information; and   load balancing communications by the network node taking into account the received first load information and the second request.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the network node is separated from the first wireless device by less than or equal to N hops. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transmitting, to one or more wireless devices including the first wireless device, the second load information indicative of the second percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over each band available to the network node, wherein the transmitting the second load information to the one or more wireless devices including the first wireless device is at least one of event triggered or periodic.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitting the second load information to the one or more wireless devices including the first wireless device is triggered by:
 satisfaction of a threshold condition of a percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over at least one band available to the network node, or   the receiving the first load information.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the network node is separated from the one or more wireless devices by less than or equal to N hops. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the load balancing further takes into account the second load information being indicative of the network node having a reduced percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over a band relative to the first percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over of the same band to the first wireless device. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:
 means for receiving first load information from a first wireless device of a set of wireless devices, the first load information being received from a second wireless device and indicative of a first percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over each of a plurality of bands available to the first wireless device;   means for obtaining, from the second wireless device, a first request for second load information indicative of a second percentage of airtime available for serving traffic over each band available to the apparatus;   means for outputting, for transmission to the second wireless device, the second load information;   the means for obtaining being further configured to obtain, from the second wireless device, a second request for the apparatus to load balance taking into account the first load information; and   means for load balancing communications by the apparatus taking into account the received first load information and the second request.